Published on: Wed, 16 Jan 2019
Maize MON 89034 × 1507 × NK603 × DAS‐40278‐9 (four‐event stack maize) was produced by conventional crossing to combine four single events: MON 89034, 1507, NK603 and DAS‐40278‐9. The GMO Panel previously assessed the four single events and four of their subcombinations and did not identify safety concerns. No new data on the maize single events or their four subcombinations that could lead to modification of the original conclusions on their safety have been identified. Th...

Published on: Mon, 14 Jan 2019
Maize MON 89034 × 1507 × MON 88017 × 59122 × DAS‐40278‐9 (five‐event stack maize) was produced by conventional crossing to combine five single events: MON 89034, 1507, MON 88017, 59122 and DAS‐40278‐9. The GMO Panel previously assessed the 5 single maize events and 11 of their subcombinations and did not identify safety concerns. No new data on the single maize events or their 11 subcombinations that could modify the original conclusions on their safety were identified. Th...

Health Canada has released the results of its testing of sartan drugs in Canada. Health Canada tested samples of certain sartan drugs (valsartan, candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, and olmesartan), which represent numerous products, as part of its ongoing collaborative work to address impurities found in some sartan drugs in Canada and internationally.

Apio, Inc. of Guadalupe, California is voluntarily recalling five SKUs of Eat Smart® Single-Serve Salad Shake Ups™ (bowls). The recall comes after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) informed the company that one random sample of Eat Smart Single-Serve Salad Shake Ups Sweet Kale/Chou Frise Doux 156 gr. (5.5oz) with Best Before of Dec 14, 2018 tested positive for Listeria Monocytogenes. As a precautionary measure, we are recalling all products produced on the same day, same production line, as the ...

Published on: Thu, 06 Dec 2018
The EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) provides a scientific opinion re‐evaluating the safety of propane‐1,2‐diol esters of fatty acids (E 477) when used as a food additive. The Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) in 1978 endorsed the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 25 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day, expressed as propane‐1,2‐diol, established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) in 1974. No adverse effects were observed in short‐t...

Published on: Thu, 29 Nov 2018
This report presents the results of surveillance on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in bovine animals, sheep, goats, cervids and other animal species, as well as genotyping in sheep, carried out in 2017 in the European Union (EU) according to Regulation (EC) 999/2001, and in Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. In total, 1,312,714 cattle were tested by the 28 EU Member States (MSs) which is a decrease of 3% compared with 2016; 18,526 were tested by the three n...

Published on: Thu, 29 Nov 2018
This update on the African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in the EU demonstrated that out of all tested wild boar found dead, the proportion of positive samples peaked in winter and summer. For domestic pigs only, a summer peak was evident. Despite the existence of several plausible factors that could result in the observed seasonality, there is no evidence to prove causality. Wild boar density was the most influential risk factor for the occurrence of ASF in wild boar. In th...

Published on: Mon, 26 Nov 2018
Abstract In response to the EFSA call New approaches in identifying and characterizing microbial and chemical hazards, the project INNUENDO (https://sites.google.com/site/theinnuendoproject/) aimed to design an analytical platform and standard procedures for the use of whole‐genome sequencing in surveillance and outbreak investigation of food‐borne pathogens. The project firstly attempted to identify existing flaws and needs, and then to provide applicable cross‐sectorial ...

Published on: Tue, 20 Nov 2018
The feed additive Monteban® G100, containing the active substance narasin, an ionophore anticoccidial, is intended to control coccidiosis in chickens for fattening at a dose of 60–70 mg/kg complete feed. Narasin is produced by fermentation. Limited data on the taxonomic identification of the production strain did not allow the proper identification of strain NRRL 8092 as Streptomyces aureofaciens. The FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the absence of genetic determinants for ...

Published on: Fri, 16 Nov 2018
The food enzyme is an endo‐1,4‐β‐xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) produced with a genetically modified strain of Aspergillus oryzae by Novozymes A/S. The genetic modifications do not give rise to safety concerns. The food enzyme is free from viable cells of the production organism and recombinant DNA. This xylanase is intended to be used in baking and cereal‐based processes. Based on the proposed maximum use levels, dietary exposure to the food enzyme–total organic solids (TOS) was e...

Routine samples of the Green Cedar Ackawi cheese collected and tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development tested positive for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Published on: Wed, 14 Nov 2018
The scope of application EFSA‐GMO‐DE‐2016‐133 is for food and feed uses, import and processing of genetically modified (GM) maize MZHG0JG in the European Union. Maize MZHG0JG was developed to confer tolerance to the herbicidal active substances glyphosate and glufosinate‐ammonium. The molecular characterisation data and bioinformatic analyses do not identify issues requiring food/feed safety assessment. None of the identified differences in the agronomic/phenotypic and com...

Published on: Wed, 31 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100
The food enzyme endo‐1,4‐β‐xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) is produced with the genetically modified Bacillus subtilis strain LMG S‐24584 by Puratos N. V. The genetic modifications do not give rise to safety concerns. The Panel noted that, although the production strain was not detected in the food enzyme, recombinant DNA was present in all batches of the food enzyme tested. The food enzyme is intended to be used in baking processes. Based on the maximum use levels re...

Published on: Mon, 29 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100
This report presents the results from an exploratory study in 2016 on clear communication of scientific assessment results. It had a specific focus on the communication of scientific uncertainties in EFSA scientific opinions. Qualitative methods were applied to the design and communication of an opinion summary and uncertainty statements related to that opinion, and to collect evidence on how different stakeholder groups responded to them. The study tested t...

Published on: Wed, 17 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0200
The Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings of the European Food Safety Authority was requested to consider in this revision 2 of Flavouring Group Evaluation 201, the additional data on genotoxicity submitted by the Industry on two substances, 2‐methylpent‐2‐enal [FL‐no: 05.090] and 2 methylcrotonaldehyde [FL‐no: 05.095], from subgroup 1.1.2 of FGE.19. In FGE.201Rev1, the Panel concluded that further data were required in order to clarify the genotoxic poten...

Silver Star Brands, Inc., is initiating a voluntary recall of six products for humans (including four Native Remedies® and two Healthful Naturals™) and two PetAlive® products for pets for a total of eight products with lot numbers, see table below, to the consumer level. The products have been tested and found to contain microbial contamination.

HelloLife, Inc. in Grand Rapids, MI is initiating a voluntary recall of four different products, Neuroveen, Respitrol, Thyroveev and Compulsin, within expiry, to the retail and consumer level due to possible microbial contamination. Neuroveen has been tested and found to be contaminated with Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Burkholderia cepacia. Compulsin has been identified as containing Burkholderia cepacia.
Respitrol and Thyroveev are still pending bacterial identification. Each product being recalled...

Published on: Thu, 23 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0200
Following a request from EFSA, the Panel on Plant Protection Products and their Residues (PPR) developed an opinion on the state of the art of Toxicokinetic/Toxicodynamic (TKTD) models and their use in prospective environmental risk assessment (ERA) for pesticides and aquatic organisms. TKTD models are species‐ and compound‐specific and can be used to predict (sub)lethal effects of pesticides under untested (time‐variable) exposure conditions. Three differen...

King Bio is voluntarily recalling the below products to the consumer level.
A small percentage of our products produced between 08/01/2017 and 04/2018 have tested positive for microbial contamination. Out of an abundance of caution, we are recalling the products and lot numbers below

Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) of New Ulm, Minn., is recalling dry whey powder packaged in 50-pound and 25-kg bags that were produced at the cooperative’s Blair, Wis., dry whey plant from May 1-5, 2018; May 24-29, 2018; June 2-5, 2018; and June 7-14, 2018 due to the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. This is a precautionary recall. All products shipped to the marketplace tested negative for Salmonella.

Health Canada is advising Canadians about unauthorized health products that may pose serious health risks. Thetable belowis updated when Health Canada finds unauthorized health products that are promoted for sexual enhancement, weight loss, as a workout aid, or as “poppers,” and that are labelled to contain or have been tested and found to contain dangerous ingredients.

As part of a planned national sampling and compliance project, Health Canada tested a number of uncertified USB chargers. The following products were found to pose an unacceptable risk of electric shock and fire and are being recalled. This table will be updated if and when new products are recalled.